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 ike most everybody
else in Southern California, the local media has been spoon-feeding
me a daily dose of Legomania. Not a day goes by without there
being some news regarding how Lego Land is going to save San
Diego's north county from becoming a blighted backwater. If I
see one more photo of Miniland, I think I am going to go postal.
Recently, while carpooling north on I-5, I had the dubious pleasure
of viewing the new and improved Canon Drive on- and off-ramps.
Please note that I did not say Legoland Drive; you can file this
in the small victories department. Kudos to the city of Carlsbad
for not completely selling out.
 While viewing the new landscaping,
a unmistakable paradox was as obvious as a 50 ft. tower of Danish
building blocks. There, less than a half mile from the edge of
the North America, trees native to Australia were planted to
spruce up the approach to the site of a Danish company.
My, my, my, aren't we continental.
Now, I realize the majority of people in North County believe
that we need as many tourist traps as possible in our little
slice of paradise. What I don't understand is how that equates
to adding more eucalyptus trees to an area that is losing its
native habitat at an alarming rate.
It is not like Carlsbad doesn't
know better. Just look at the job they did widening the La Costa
Blvd. overpass. Currently, if you look at that landscaping, you
will see healthy young sycamore trees and California golden poppies
in bloom. To plant eucalyptus trees, when it is common knowledge
that they do nothing to help restore the environmental balance
that city planners have so cavalierly destroyed, is completely
irresponsible.
While the subject of irresponsibility
is on the table, what percentage of native plants has been incorporated
in the landscaping? Of the photos I have seen to date, the landscaping
shown is quite lush. Considering that we live in region that
is predominantly coastal sage scrub, it seems Southern California
was not as perfect as the folks from Denmark had hoped. I guess
a favorable business environment is all any of us really need.
The question before us now
is, when will this complete disregard for native plants and animals
stop? Cities all over North County pay so called "professionals"
considerable salaries to wreak havoc on local systems. Why is
this? I'm sure Carlsbad city planners declared that Legoland
would have no significant impact on the environment. Obviously,
municipal mercenaries had their back to Aqua Hedionda Lagoon
at the time.
To show that this is not an
isolated case, environmental consultants have also declared that
the Manchester Resort in Oceanside would also have no impact
on the coastal environment. Do you think this might have something
to do with not biting the hand that feeds you? How much work
do you think an environmental consultant would get if word got
out that he was more concerned with environmental health than
corporate profitability? Turning a blind eye makes sense when
you have car payments to make.
So now that we have an amusement
park, perhaps local officials will seek Federal loans to help
fund the native plant museum. Just imagine: after your out-of-town
guests are done looking at the miniature plastic skyline, you
can take them to see the stuffed gnatcatcher gathering dust at
City Hall. 
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